Ethiopia and Tigray forces clash again, reviving fears of return to war
Ethiopia's government and Tigrayan forces blame each other for a new round of fighting that has revived fears of a return to the devastating 2020-2022 civil war, with accounts differing on who started it.
What happened
Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) have accused each other of launching offensives, with fighting reported in Tigray and, according to France 24 and El País, the neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara.1315
Tigrayan forces have seized an airport in Mekelle and reportedly taken control of other federally administered airports in Tigray.1131415
The TPLF has announced an alliance with six other armed groups, which the groups said was aimed at removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government, according to CGTN.2
Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights to three Tigray cities as tensions have escalated.2
The African Union and European Union have called for immediate de-escalation, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged restraint to avoid a broader conflict.48
What's agreed
Reported consistently by outlets in more than one region.
- Fighting has broken out in and around Ethiopia's Tigray region involving the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and federal government forces, raising fears of a return to full-scale war.135691214
- Tigrayan forces seized control of an airport in Mekelle, and reports describe additional airports in Tigray coming under Tigrayan control.1131415
- The TPLF has formed an alliance with several other armed groups.2812
- The current fighting follows a 2020-2022 civil war between the TPLF and federal forces that ended with a peace deal, now described as fragile or shattered.351112
Where accounts differ
Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.
Who initiated the current fighting
Ethiopian government, via Getachew Reda and Premium Times' reporting
The government says the TPLF launched offensives and took control of federally administered airports in Tigray, describing it as an 'all-out offensive' by the rebels.17
Tigray rebels, via AFP (reported by France 24)
Tigray rebels told AFP they were in a state of 'full-blown war' with the federal government, responding to what they characterized as government aggression.3
Tigray rebels, via Washington Post reporting
Tigray rebels said they were responding to a 'full-scale offensive' by the government, which the government denied, saying the rebels started the fighting.10
Characterization of the conflict's scale
Tigrayan leaders, via Reuters/Egypt Independent
Tigrayan leaders say a new war with the federal government has begun.11
Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie
The president warned of 'forces of destruction' in response to what he called a rebel offensive, without confirming the government itself started a new war.9
How it's framed
What each perspective puts first, based on headlines and summaries.
| Perspective | How it reads | What it puts first |
|---|---|---|
| African private and independent pressAfrica | Outlets emphasize the mutual accusations between the government and Tigray, foregrounding official statements from Ethiopian officials and framing the government's disputed characterization of TPLF actions as an offensive.1711 | mutual accusations, government statements, offensive framing |
| European outlets (public broadcasters and private press)Europe | European coverage varies: Le Monde and El País use stronger language describing 'total war' or the return of 'civil war,' while France 24 and Deutsche Welle are more cautious, quoting rebels' 'full-blown war' claim and describing the 2022 peace deal as being 'tested' rather than declaring war outright.381215 | peace deal fragility, varying intensity of war framing, international response |
| US outletsNorth America | US outlets, including public broadcasting and major newspapers, emphasize growing fears of renewed war and present competing claims from both the government and rebels without adopting either side's framing.51014 | fear of renewed war, balanced attribution of blame, specific military developments like airport seizures |
| Middle East and Turkey-based outletsMiddle East & Turkey | Coverage from this region includes both state-controlled (Al Jazeera, Anadolu) and private (Arab News) outlets, with emphasis on international diplomatic responses (UN) and government warnings about rebel actions, alongside straightforward reporting of rebel airport seizures.4913 | UN response, government warnings, rebel military gains |
| Chinese state mediaEast Asia | State-controlled CGTN frames the story primarily around a concrete consequence, the suspension of Ethiopian Airlines flights, while noting the rebel alliance's stated goal of removing the prime minister.2 | practical impact on travel, alliance's political goal |
| Southeast Asian private pressSoutheast Asia | The Straits Times focuses on the human and civilian dimension, describing residents stockpiling supplies in fear of war, rather than on military or political claims.6 | civilian fear, stockpiling behavior |
What the coverage leaves out
- None of the outlets reviewed reported independently verified casualty figures for the current fighting.
- None of the outlets reviewed detailed the specific composition or names of all six armed groups allied with the TPLF beyond describing the alliance.
- None of the outlets reviewed reported a direct response from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed himself, as opposed to other Ethiopian officials.
- None of the outlets reviewed explained in detail what triggered the breakdown of the 2022 peace deal in the weeks or months prior to the fighting.
Why it matters
The 2020-2022 Tigray war killed more than 600,000 people according to African Union estimates, and a 2022 peace deal that ended it is now described by outlets as being tested or broken.312
The African Union and European Union have called for immediate de-escalation, and the UN Secretary-General has urged parties to avoid actions that could lead to broader conflict.48
France 24 and El País reported that fighting has also spread to the neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara, not just Tigray itself.315
What to watch
- Whether the African Union, European Union or United Nations statements lead to any negotiated de-escalation.
- Whether fighting spreads further into the Afar and Amhara regions.
- Whether Ethiopian Airlines extends or lifts its flight suspensions to Tigray cities.
Sources (15)
Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.
North America
- 5NPRUSPublic broadcaster
- 10The Washington PostUSPrivate
Attacks by new rebel alliance stoke fear Ethiopia is returning to war
- 14The New York TimesUSPrivate
Tigrayan Forces Mobilize Against the Central Government in Ethiopia
Europe
- 3France 24FRPublic broadcaster
- 8Le MondeFRPrivate
Translated from French: En Ethiopie, après le déclenchement d’offensives par plusieurs groupes rebelles, le pays au bord de la « guerre totale »
- 12Deutsche WelleDEPublic broadcaster
New fighting in Ethiopia's Tigray region raises fears of a return to the country's civil war
- 15El PaísESPrivate
Civil war breaks out again in Ethiopia
Translated from Spanish: La guerra civil vuelve a estallar en Etiopía
Middle East & Turkey
- 4Anadolu AgencyTRState-controlled
UN chief urges restraint as fighting intensifies in northern Ethiopia
- 9Al Jazeera EnglishQAState-controlled
Ethiopia warns of ‘destruction’ as Tigray rebels launch offensive
- 13Arab NewsSAPrivate
Ethiopia's Tigray rebels seize airports, clash with govt forces
Africa
- 1MyJoyOnlineGHPrivate
Ethiopia and Tigray accuse each of launching offensives, fuelling fears of new war
- 7Premium TimesNGIndependent
Attack by rebel group raises fear of renewed war in Ethiopia
- 11Egypt IndependentEGPrivate
Tigrayan leaders say new war with Ethiopian government has begun, as fighting erupts
East Asia
- 2CGTNCNState-controlled
Southeast Asia
- 6The Straits TimesSGPrivate
Residents in Ethiopia's Tigray region stock up in fear of return to full-scale war